The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will push through with the implementation of the Philippine Trustmark system for online sellers, Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said Wednesday, despite facing concerns from some lawmakers about the new verification program.
Roque said the program is necessary to protect both legitimate online sellers and consumers from fraud, while ensuring a safer digital marketplace. She said the Philippines is among the strongest e-commerce markets in Asia, but also one facing significant risks from online fraud.
“I really don’t see any problem with the Trustmark. It benefits both sellers and consumers,” Roque said at the sidelines of the 2025 Business Summit organized by the Federation of Filipino Industries.
The Trustmark is a verification badge that online businesses can apply for through the DTI to prove their legitimacy. Roque said micro enterprises could obtain the trust mark for free, contrary to some reports suggesting a P1,000 fee.
“If I’m a micro enterprise with assets from P10 all the way to P3 million, the trust mark is free. For small enterprises with assets between P3 million and P10 million, the fee is only P5,000,” she said.
Roque said even multinational companies selling online are required to secure the Trustmark at a minimal cost of P1,000 per month.
She said similar Trustmark systems are already in place in other Southeast Asian countries and that the Philippines’ version remains the most affordable, and the only one offering free certification to micro enterprises.
The DTI is extending the application period until Dec. 31, 2025, and will issue a department order to finalize the trust mark guidelines. Roque said the order would not introduce new provisions.
